Microcoulomb-Class Self-Modulated Laser Wakefield Accelerator on OMEGA EP

ORAL

Abstract

Self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators (SMLWFA's) driven by picosecond-scale, kilojoule-class lasers enable particle beams and x-ray sources that could be coupled to experiments driven by large-scale, high-energy lasers such as the OMEGA laser at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) or the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. We report on the development of a SMLWFA platform for the OMEGA EP Laser System at LLE. This platform is the first laser-plasma accelerator driven by a short-pulse, kilojoule-class laser (OMEGA EP) connected to a high-energy-density-science (HEDS) driver (OMEGA). Initial experiments demonstrated electron beams with electron energies exceeding 200 MeV, divergences as low as 32 mrad, charge exceeding 700 nC, and laser-to-electron conversion efficiencies up to 11{\%}. The total charge in the electron beam is found to scale with both $a_{\mathrm{0}}$ and plasma density. These electron beams are, to our knowledge, the highest-charge electron beams produced from a laser-plasma accelerator and show promise as a path to MeV-class radiography sources and improved flux for broadband sources of interest at HEDS facilities.

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Authors

  • Jessica Shaw

    Laboratory of Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester

  • Gerrit Bruhaug

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester

  • Manfred Ambat

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester

  • Max McKie

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester

  • J.P. Palastro

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester, U. of Rochester, Laboratory laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • D.H. Froula

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York 14623, USA

  • Marco Romo-Gonzalez

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester and California State U. Stanislaus

  • Nuno Lemos

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL

  • Félicie Albert

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL

  • Paul King

    LLNL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL and U. Texas Austin